Las Plumas went 3-7 last year, repeating the same record in Morris' first season in 2012. The Thunderbirds went 3-3 in the Butte View League, tied for third with Wheatland and Winters while Orland and Sutter, the league champion, finished ahead of them. The team's victories came against Gridley, Wheatland and crosstown rival Oroville in the teams' annual Victory Bell game.

One more victory and the Thunderbirds just might find themselves in the playoffs.

"I think we have a definite chance of doing it," said standout linebacker Robert Daley, who knows something about advancing to the postseason as he reached the section track and field final for the discus, one of two non-seniors to do so last year with Enterprise's Izzy Matthews the other. "And it would mean a lot."

Las Plumas opens the season Friday with a home game against Marysville at Harrison Stadium, the first of two at Harrison. Then Corning comes to town.

The regular-season finale has Oroville. Recently, that rivalry game had come in the fourth contest of the season. But now coming so late, LP hopes the game carries even more importance than usual, factoring into the postseason.

Also along the defensive line are Emilio Smith, Jordan Holbrook, French, and Maxwell, who has a defensive end starting spot.

In the secondary, Collins will play safety, Justin Saechao and Austin Ford will likely be the cornerbacks, while Kyle Bisping has come on of late at cornerback, Morris said, and will likely see time there as well. Sutton will also play safety.